Flamethroat by Kate Bloomfield

Well that was different, ’ Jack waved it aside. I disagreed, but did not voice my opinion.
    ‘ So what did you talk about? ’ I pressed. I was eager to hear Mr. Greenwood ’ s side of the story, but did not want to pry into matters that made Jack uncomfortable.
    Jack began to fidget. ‘ He rattled on a little bit, saying how he never wanted to leave and that he never stopped thinking about me. He said that he was too ashamed to face me, or to go back. But here ’ s the kicker, he told me why he left. ’
    I frowned. ‘ Well, it ’ s because he couldn ’ t heal Noah ’ s fiancé, Madeline, isn ’ t it? That girl who died? ’
    Jack nodded. ‘ That ’ s only half of it. ’
    ‘ Then what? ’
    ‘ He says … he says her brain was affected. You know how it works. Healers can ’ t fix anything that is permanent. Madeline ’ s mind was gone. She was wasting away. ’
    ‘ I thought she was sick? ’ I said.
    Jack shrugged, ‘ Apparently much of it was in her head. ’ Jack tapped his temple. ‘ Dad said that she took her own life – he was too late to revive her. ’
    ‘ But then why does he feel so guilty about it? It ’ s not his fault! ’
    ‘ Shhh. ’ Jack waved a hand to quiet me. ‘ He knows that. ’
    ‘ So why did he abandon you? ’
    ‘ Noah Forsythe. ’ Jack scowled. ‘ No good scumbag. ’
    I clenched my teeth together. I did not like talking about Noah Forsythe one bit. Several months ago I had been infatuated with my Master ’ s son and sought his affections, only to learn that I greatly resembled his dead fiancé Madeline. This had resulted in Noah attempting to force himself on me using his Power of hypnotism, which rendered me completely useless. It was because of him that I had lost my Power for so long.
    ‘ What about him? ’ I said stiffly.
    ‘ Well he blamed my father, didn ’ t he? ’ said Jack. ‘ He threatened to have him hanged for killing Madeline. So Dad did the only thing he could think of – he ran for it. ’
    ‘ But why didn ’ t he take you with him? ’ I said, my anger rising once again.
    ‘ He didn ’ t know where he was going – or how long he would be alive. He said he spent months on the road, walking and starving. Said it was no place for a child. ’
    ‘ But … once he had settled down- ’ I began.
    ‘ Why didn ’ t he come and fetch me? ’ Jack finished my sentence. ‘ I wondered that too. Dad said it would look suspicious. He assumed that Noah Forsythe would be keeping an eye on me, to see if I made contact with him. ’
    ‘ Did you try? ’
    ‘ Many times ’ Jack admitted. ‘ I sent messengers into every corner of the country looking for him – but nothing. ’
    I squeezed Jack ’ s hand tightly when I saw his eyes become rather shiny.
    ‘ So, ’ he said, slapping his knee and standing up. ‘ That ’ s what he said. He said he didn ’ t want me to get dragged into the whole mess and that once everything had settled down, he was too ashamed to show his face to me. ’
    I bit my lip. ‘ Are you still mad at him? ’
    Jack pursed his lips. ‘ I don ’ t know anymore. I guess time will tell. This isn ’ t the kind of thing that will fix itself overnight. I don ’ t know if I trust him. ’
    Silence fell upon the bathroom. I didn ’ t know what to say to comfort Jack, so instead I watched his face closely.
    ‘ They have offered us a room, ’ Jack said suddenly.
    ‘ How nice, ’ I said, lifting a handful of bubbles. ‘ Another good nights sleep – and a breakfast too. ’
    ‘ They have offered us a permanent room, ’ Jack finished.
    I stared. ‘ Permanent? ’
    Jack nodded. ‘ They want us to stay. ’
    ‘ We can ’ t, ’ I said quickly. ‘ I have to get my family back. ’
    ‘ I know, I know, ’ Jack said hurriedly, kneeling beside the bathtub so he was eye to eye with me. ‘ I thought perhaps, once we find your family, we might come back? Just for a little while. ’
    I thought what life might be like living